Myanmar Shan State Green Tea
Large-leaf green tea from Myanmar's Shan highlands, where tea is both drunk and eaten.
Shan State, in the highlands of eastern Myanmar, is the center of Burmese tea. Its green tea is made from large-leaved bushes, often by hand, and green tea is the national drink.
Sensory profile
Where it sits
That is 38 mg in one serving (5–6 oz cup (150–180 ml)), a concentration of 23 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | Teapot or Cup |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 1:42 |
| Dose & yield | 3.9g → 165g |
| Grind size | Curled Leaf |
| Water temperature | 185°F / 85°C |
| Target brew time | 2–3 min |
| Serving | 5–6 oz cup (150–180 ml) |
What you need
- 3.9 g loose-leaf green tea
- 165 g filtered water at 85°C
Required gear
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Warm the pot with hot water and pour it away, so the brewing water does not lose heat to cold ceramic.
- 0:10Add 3.9 g of leaf to the pot or basket, leaving room for it to open.
- 0:20Pour 165 g of water at 85°C over the leaf and cover. Start the timer.
- 2:50Remove the leaf or decant completely. Leaf left in the pot keeps extracting and turns the last cup bitter.
What it may be good for
Caffeine, in numbers
We list about 38 mg for a 5 to 6 oz (150 to 180 ml) cup, made with a generous 3 to 4 g of leaf per 150 ml.
Two ways to drink the leaf
In Myanmar the same bush gives drinking tea and lahpet, the fermented leaf eaten in salads. This is the drinking kind, and it is brewed like any other green tea.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you.
Shan State, in the highlands of eastern Myanmar, is the center of Burmese tea. Its green tea is made from large-leaved bushes, often by hand, and green tea is the national drink. Little has been published about how it tastes, so brew a small cup and judge it yourself. Brewed small at 85°C.
Origin & Story
Most Burmese tea grows in the highlands of Shan State on the border with China's Yunnan, especially around Namhsan, in the old Palaung state of Tawngpeng, though tea is also grown near Mogok and Kengtung. Most of what is made there is green tea, consumed in Myanmar, and a little is exported to Yunnan. Namhsan has been a major trading center since before the colonial era, and its economy relies almost entirely on green tea and pickled tea leaves.
The leaf is the large-leaved Assamica kind, and most of the production is artisanal, done by hand. Burmese tradition says the Palaung people of Namhsan began growing tea after an encounter with King Alaungsithu of Bagan, around the year 1100.
Tea in Myanmar is a food as well as a drink. Lahpet, tea leaves that are steamed, pressed and left to ferment for months, is eaten as a salad, lahpet thoke, which is a national dish, and green tea is the national drink.
Few tasting notes have been published for it, so take the first cup as an experiment. This page is written for a small cup of 150 to 180 ml, with 3 to 4 g of leaf per 150 ml of water at 85°C for two to three minutes, in a teapot or cup.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 55/100 |
| Acidity | 35/100 |
| Bitterness | 50/100 |
| Body | 50/100 |
| Aroma | 70/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Myanmar Shan State Green Tea?
One serving, 5–6 oz cup (150–180 ml), contains approximately 38 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Myanmar Shan State Green Tea?
Target 85°C (185°F).
How long should Myanmar Shan State Green Tea be extracted?
Timing: 2–3 min. Method: Teapot or Cup. Ratio: 3–4g per 150ml water. Grind or leaf format: Curled Leaf.
Where is Burmese tea grown?
Mostly in the highlands of Shan State, on the border with Yunnan in China, especially around Namhsan in the old Palaung state of Tawngpeng, and also near Mogok and Kengtung.
What is lahpet?
Lahpet is fermented tea leaf: the leaves are steamed, pressed and left to ferment for months, then eaten as a salad called lahpet thoke, a national dish of Myanmar.
Who should avoid Myanmar Shan State Green Tea?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Borosilicate Glass Teapot with Infuser
In this recipe: Teapot with room for the leaf to open
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